Hello from HH

[Firefighter Mickey]

Weather is great; supposed to get into the 60's today. Pool time with the kids later. Planning on doing hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill outside in a bit.

Dinner this evening with Chef Gordon. We finalized the menu last night after we arrived. Decided on some items not from the sample menu because we have a non-seafood lover with us (youngest; not sure why - she eats tuna, but nothing else in the seafood realm). Anyway we're going to have pork tenderloin for the main course, spinach with garlic chips, whipped potatos and cherries jubilee. Kids will have fruit smoothies and we'll be doing the wine pairing.

The 2BR unit we have is very nice with a view of the marsh, and not too far from the pool. My only complaint was that we were under some people, one of which I'm sure had a peg leg and was a night owl. However, they checked out today, so hopefully things won't be quite as noisy.

Alas, it's supposed to cool off the rest of the time we are here, but that won't stop the kids from swimming (us either). I can't say we've done much other than some grocery shopping. The kids will be doing the NYE party that they have organized here - sounds like fun. We're not sure what mom and dad are doing for nye - possibly just a nice dinner here at the room.

On the 2nd, we go back to Orlando and a Fairfield Inn for a few days (not sure how we'll handle that, as these accomodations really spoil you). Gonna do USF/IOA and possibly go back to WDW for one day (since we were so busy entertaining family, we didn't get a chance to do some of the things we really wanted to do).

Later!!!! The grill and pool calls!

 

[BillM]

Mickey
Everything sounds great at HH. We have a 100 pt add on and like it very much.
I was wondering since you said your Mother was in a wheelchair, did they give you a 2 BR in the Lodge so you could use the elevator.

 

[Firefighter Mickey]

It's just me, spouse and 2 kids here at HH. Mom & Dad headed home yesterday. This is our vacation from the vacation - just the immediate family.

 

[RobDoc]

Have a great time at HH. I know you'll enjoy "A Private Affair" with Chef Gordon. Sounds like you've planned a nice meal. Will you assist Gordon with the preparation??

 

[Firefighter Mickey]

We were thinking of assisting, but haven't decided for certain. We meet up in 2 hours, and are trying to decide what to wear - probably casual, since my white dinner jacket might be overkill.

The pool was wonderful - like the water slide; I think the ol' farts in the rocking chairs at OKW need to get a water slide installed; it will let them act their shoe size. None of the adults were using the water slide until I went down it doing my Goofy yell, then finally I got a couple of other dads to use it with the kids. We all need to act like kids from time to time - I know that's when the kids have the most fun with us! of course they did get tired of my pirate joke that I told everyone at WDW that commented on my bandana with the Mickey ears; downright embarrased from time to time I'd say, but that's part of the fun too!

I'm trying to talk the family into the kayaking trip on 1/1, but am getting some resistance. I think with the weather that the Dolphin watch trip might be too cold, and we don't have any warm coats with us. Decisions, decisions....

 

[RobDoc]

The kayaking is great fun and you may even get to see some dolphin there.

We've enjoyed watching dolphin and river otter right from the resort. The dolphin often come in to feed when the tide comes into Broad Creek. The otter can sometimes be found on the bank near the back of the lodge.

Enjoy!

 

[walter]

FirefighterMickey,
Were you at HH over Christmas? If so how was the weather? We may like to do that in the future since our son has relocated just south of Atlanta.

 

[ZerasPride]

Firefighter Mickey - it sounds like you and your family are having a wonderful time!!! I am so jealous! We left Hilton Head on December 24th and my family cannot wait to go back next year. There are so many things we did not have a chance to do including the meal with Chef Gordon. We'll definitely be doing that next time. Do you know if Chef Gordon is "working" on New Year's Eve? That would be a most enchanting way to bring in a new year, don't you think? Can you tell me how flexible Chef Gordon is with the menu selections? My DH is a strictly meat and potatos or should I say chicken and potatos type of guy and about as gourmet as he'll go is Grey Poupon on his hamburger instead of French's mustard (lol)!

Aren't the two bedroom villas wonderful? We were so impressed with our unit and its location overlooking the marsh. Regarding your post above about the person with the peg leg above you, I can imagine what you mean. When we first checked into the resort, it was at 29% occupancy and I think we were the only family in our building. When it got closer to the weekend, a family moved in above us and I "affectionately" nicknamed them the "Buffalo" family because of all the hard knocking and banging they were doing even late into the evening. My husband told me it was just that we were spoiled and not used to having someone over our heads but they were pretty noisy, not enough to complain but they did earn their nickname in our last few days (lol)!

Can't wait to go back "home" next year, thanks for the report and any info you can give Firefighter Mickey!

Lisa

 

[Firefighter Mickey]

The resort is currently at 100% occupancy (so we are told). We were at OKW during Christmas, and only arrived here on the 28th - the weather the day we arrived and yesterday was in the 60's - today is supposed to be cooler, in the 50's and cooler even as the week moves on.

I don't know for sure what the temps were like here during Christmas week, but in Orlando we had a couple of very cool days (40's to 50's), so if we assume things are close, you get the idea. It seems like winter weather is really hit or miss in terms of temps. Generally things are fairly mild, but if a cold front pushed down from the north.....

We had a wonderful meal last night with Chef Gordon. Black Bean cakes as the appetiser (which the kids loved); pork tenderloin in a bar-b-q like sauce, spinach with garlic chips and cherries jubilee for desert. We didn't help prepare, but had a lot of fun talking to Chef Gordon about the meal as it was prepared. Chef Gordon is very flexible with regard to requests and can accomodate most anything from what it sounded like.

Chef Gordon is booked for a party of 20 at the beach house on NYE, and is generally booked thru April, but has pockets/days of availability. So, if this is something you are interested in doing, it's well worth planning ahead. In addition to the "private affair" Chef Gordon does a number of other activities - this evening he's doing a "how to make deserts" presentation which we'll be attending.

 

[daddylonglegs]

I thought that you had to stay in a GV to have "A Private Affair" with Chef Gordon. Can anybody give me the details on this, it sounds like fun.

 

[Firefighter Mickey]

One of the GV's has not been declared into member inventory, and as such is reserved for various functions, such as a "private affair" or the "just deserts." So, you don't need to be staying in a GV to have a meal prepared by Chef Gordon. Chef Gordon does prefer preparing meals in the GV, but can accomodate people with HCA requirements and prepare a meal in their room (assuming you have a room with a kitchen).

They are already making plans for how to continue the cooking events after the GV has been declared into member inventory (expected to happen no later than this coming summer when they expect the resort to sell out).

You can contact Chef Gordon by calling the resort and asking for the recreation department, they will take your contact info and have Chef Gordon get in touch with you.

He said that he's getting pretty well booked up thru April, but still has some dates available.

We just had a very nice "Behind the ears tour" with Gordon, and are looking forward to the "Just Deserts" program this evening.

 

[daddylonglegs]

Thanks for the info Firefighter Mickey. We will be going home to Hilton Head in July for the first time and this sounds like great fun(DH loves to cook). Is there a web site somewhere that tells the cost, menu items, party size requirements. Any information or recreation ideas you could suggest to help us plan for our vacation would be great. I can't wait to check out the resort I bet it's beautiful. We bought sight unseen (again), we did the same thing at VWL and definitely were not disappointed. Counting down the days!!

 

[RobDoc]

Here is a link to a prior thread about <a href="http://64.225.125.24/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=93885&highlight=Private+Affair">"A Private Affair".</a> There is menu information in the thread.

It is a great program and quite an elegant meal.

 

[KarenB]

Glad you are having such a great time! Isn't HH wonderful?? We spent a week last June there and it was really tough leaving. DH just said that even though we have a fun trip to VWL and Vero planned for this June, he will really miss the time we spent at HH!!But, we have 40 more years

I don't know how old your kids are, but ours had a great time crabbing from the pier. We caught about 7 crabs and had most of the CMs at the end of the pier rooting for us to catch more!!! We took them to our room, cooked them up, and yummy!!!!!!


Karen

 

[daddylonglegs]

Thanks Doc

 

[Firefighter Mickey]

Unfortunately, crabbing is not in season right now (and one of our kids doesn't do seafood for some reason - don't ask me why).

We did however just enjoy a wonderful evening with Chef Gordon who created a couple of different and very tasty deserts - taffy apples and a desert fondue. It was really fun enjoying the demonstration and then interacting with the other people present. Well worth the cost and we learned some useful information about desert cooking. Chef Gordon is very personable, and a great presentor.

HH is a very nice resort - we've been really surprised that even though the resort continues to be at 100% occupancy right now, you just don't see many other people. Today saw 40 checkouts and check-ins, which means it was pretty busy for housekeeping though.

We had a great time today using one of the grills and picnic tables to grill up some burgers and dogs for lunch, staring out at the marsh and watching the kids enjoy climbing on the trees. All in all, a great family experience.

2 thumbs up!!!

 

[ZerasPride]

Firefighter Mickey you make it hard for me to wait until next December to go back to Hilton Head! I wish we could go back right now. DH was just talking about our trip last night with a great big ol' smile on his face and believe me he has NEVER done that after any of our trips to Disneyworld! Anyway, it sounds like you are having a wonderful time. Can you tell us how much the "dessert" activity costs for members and would kids or teens be out of place? Thanks!

Lisa

 

[Firefighter Mickey]

It's $12/person for members. It's listed as an adult activity, but our 2 teens attended and did not seem too out of place - I think it really depends on the teen and whether they would be interested or not. Chef Gordon does all of the cooking, the the rest of us observed and asked questions.

 

[ZerasPride]

Thanks so much! I really appreciate your taking the time to post while on vacation!

Lisa

 

[chris1gill]

I have a question about the GV, How many steps up is it from the ground? I have mobility issues, but can make a couple of steps if need be, just not too many!!! I'm thinking we might do the private affair for our anniversary....

Thanks for all the info!!